3 insurgents held, 11 surrender in Baghlan

PUL-I-KHUMRI (PAN): Three armed insurgents, including a notorious commander, were captured alive during separate security operations in northern Baghlan province, where an 11-member rebel group joined the government-initiated peace drive, an official said on Sunday.

Two alleged insurgents were apprehended during a manhunt for a Taliban leader in the Himmatkhel area of Baghlan-i-Jadid district, police chief Brig. Gen. Asadullah Sherzad told Pajhwok Afghan News.  

Sherzad held the Taliban leader, still at large, responsible for masterminding a number of attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. Two AK-47s were seized from the detainees. 

Elsewhere, police raided a compound in the Dunda Ghori area, arresting a senior insurgent, the police chief claimed. A rocket propelled grenade (RPG), ammunitions and some remote controlled devices were recovered from the rebel, he added.

The 11 insurgents joined the peace process in the Yarm area of Jalga district, said High Peace Council Sirajuddin Munshi.

The group that had been active over the past five years in the area turned in weapons to security officials, said Munshi, who claimed the surrendering men had foreign links.

“I chose to be off the battle-field after fighting against the government for the last five years. We have been told by our masters in Pakistan are puppets in the hands of infidels,” confessed Qari Zafarullah, one of the former fighters.

So far 5,900 insurgents have reconciled with the government nationwide, with around 200 shunning violence in Baghlan.

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